Vespaio
| Address: | 1610 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704, USA |
| Phone: | +1 512-441-6100 |
| Site: | austinvespaio.com |
| Rating: | 4.4 |
| Working: | 5–10PM 5–10PM 5–10PM 5–10PM 5–10PM 5–10PM 5–10PM |
Location
Photos 1
Reviews 6
A
A Private User
Tthree tragic courses. I read so many good reviews online and thought this was going to be a fabulous Italian dinner but unfortunately the best part was the grappa. My boyfriend and i split the pansoti di zucca/squash ravioli as an appetizer which was bland and the brown butter was all olive oil, a little acid and savory tid bit would have done this dish better than the brown sugar that was added. hindsight being what it is, I would say that it lacked the palette whetting punch of an app, and was more akin to an Italian spin on a side dish at a steak house or rib joint. I had the lamb, with king trumpet mushrooms, and pasta special. The dish was over salted, and overly braised. My boyfriend had the seafood risotto with sweetbreads. the risotto was watery and at best completely flavorless... could have used some more cheese, and perhaps seasoning and herbs. The scallops good, but the sweetbreads under done. One would think, that at 75 bucks a head more fresh herbs would be in the dish. for dessert, not only did we get the wrong one (we ordered the zeppole yet received the chocolate torte with pistachio semifreddo) but being good sports and still waiting to be wooed by the food we took our first bite and were severely disappointed. the cake (not a torte at all) was completely dry. (kind of like a whoopie pie that you can get for .99 cents at any gas station in boston... only dry), Every time the waiter walked by, I flashed back to eating my Babcias (polish for grandmother) burnt-to-the-pot potato soup and straining to not look completely disgusted. Granted, I know I should say something, but complaining about the food would have only worsened my experience. The ice cream was yummy though. The Sever was there but for no more than taking an order, the specials were printed with the menu (to help him with his job) and he didnt even offer his assistance at our request. He was leaning over our table every time he walked by which i would have preferred he had done from a distance. He was speaking across the dining room to a co-worker from our table. After our first course was cleared in two trips, the waiter carried the silver for our next course balled up in his hand, and cleared the rest of our app course in the midst of silvering for our entrees. I personally have a problem with dirty dishes and clean dishes being handled in the same step. It seems to me that casual is confused with hash house in this particular restaurant, in fact, I find this to be the case in several "upscale" Austin dining locations. They think that upscale service is too uptight, so they abandon ship on all (or most) etiquette and leave diners like me feeling like my pockets are lighter than they should be as I remove my napkin from my lap and get up to leave. if anyone has somewhat of a palette, and believes that a certain level of service is included in the menu price, than they will stay clear of this restaurant otherwise they will be severely disappointed. If the service was a little more welcoming and professional, than I might give it another chance. The key to happiness in dining out, and life itself exists through the abandonment of all expectations. At what price are you, as a diner, willing to make this sacrifice.
KR
Kris Umlauf
Vespaio is Italian food at its best: food representative of handmade pastas and fresh ingredients, just as you might expect from the Itallian countryside. Although the place is always crowded it retains a romantic feel with the dim lighting, intimate seating areas and the floor-to-ceiling wine rack. The Pansoti de Zucca is a dish where you can "feel the love" that goes into the carefully folded delicate handmade pasta shells that house the creamy butternut squash filling inside, topped with freshly grated parmigiano. Go ahead and swirl it around in the delicious sage butter brown sauce (think brown sugar). It is very sweet and for some its dessert enough. The risotto dishes are also a solid choice; the last risotto dish I had here was with crab meat and it was fantastic, with lump crab meat in the center, surrounded by a bright yellow risotto. You also cant go wrong with the calamari appetizer or the Misticanza salad. The red wines offered are mostly Italian and French. If you arent familiar with the varietals ask your server for a recommendation; they are usually pretty knowledgeable about their wines. If you want one of the best Napa Valley offerings and have lots of discretionary income, then go long and order the Silver Oak.
EV
Eva Russell
This was the best dining experience weve had since moving to Texas. We moved from the San Francisco Bay area where there are a lot of great Italian restaurants, Vespaio was the first Italian food weve found in Texas that is as good. When we told our waiter that it was our first time eating there he was very informative and took extra time to explain the dishes and give us suggestions. Vespaio was the first REAL risotto that I have found in Austin. The place has the real feel of an Italian restaurant with all the passion and love of food that is a big part of the Italian culture. We were seated right on time. We spent two hours eating our meal and at no time did we feel rushed, even though the place was packed on a Thursday night. The salads are large enough to split between 2 people. The entree filled the plates with plenty of delicious food , even the sides were great.We will be regulars from now on.
BA
BAKNBLK Bird
We just came back from Italy and we had a craving for Italian food. Based on a recommendation from others we chose Vespaio. We were not disappointed. The atmosphere is loud but so were most Italian restaurants we ate at in Italy. The food was excellent and did remind us of our trip. The house made mozzarella was so flavorful we fought over the last bit. The Cacio e Pepe was delicious but had a little more pepper than we expected. Its important to note that everywhere we ate it in Italy had a slightly different taste and flavor. Nonetheless it was very well prepared. The margarita pizza was so good. It had a thin crispy crust and soft in the middle. Its not cheap to eat there but its not too expensive.
SA
Samiran Ganguly
Excellent food and service. Be ready for a wait as it can get busy. Portion sizes are very generous. We had the mussels as appetizers and it was a very generous portion so order it for the table. It was done very well. Rich tomato sauce and fresh mussels. I had a pizza and it was among the best Ive had, cheesy but not greasy, sausage that was spicy but not overwhelming. My wife had the shrimp and she was happy with it. Our friend had the butternut squash ravioli and she and my wife both loved it. We also had a tiramisu and it was excellent. Ill highly recommend this place is you are in town. Theres ample space for parking behind and by the side of the building.
TI
Tiffany Lively
I have never uttered these words before, and I dont do so lightly.....this is simply the best restaurant Ive ever been to. I actually drive from Houston once a month just to dine there. I have yet to eat anything there that cannot be defined as divine. try the Wagyu beef hash for Sunday brunch. Or the French toast. Get some hot coppa and Greek salad to take home from the deli, and maybe a chocolate mousse. You would have to be completely ignorant of taste not to leave this place and sigh with content. Great job, whoever the chef and owners are, along with the rest of the staff. This is the way dining out should be!